Houses above the beach at Bolinas, CA. The beach was covered with shells and interesting rocks. There were lots of beach-combers. And suddenly, we became beach-combers, ourselves. One couldn't really help it. I don't know if you're supposed to collect stuff from the beach, so following are photos of some of the rocks and shells we didn't collect.

Photos taken 17 February 2007 in the Pacific Coastal town of Bolinas, California, in Marin County about 15 miles north of San Francisco.

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MatMan > Before driving up to Bolinas, we ate lunch at Mandalay, a Burmese restaurant on California Street at 6th Ave. It was only my 3rd time eating Burmese cuisine, and though the previous two times were very good, this was by far the best. This is Jay eating a bite of the Papaya Salad we ordered. But most notable is the altar area behind him on the left. You may want to view the original size to truly appreciate that palm tree.

MatMan > By the time we got to Bolinas, my back was killing me. This is the market where I bought a bottle of ibuprofen. Bolinas sits on the Pacific Ocean just a couple miles off Highway 1 in Marin County.

MatMan > I popped 4 ibuprofens and we walked up the street and around a corner. I don't think either of us really knew where we were going. Bollinas is known locally as the town that doesn't want any tourists. For years, Caltrans would put up highway markers indicating the turn off Hwy. 1 toward Bolinas, and for years the locals would take it down. Caltrans finally gave up, and today, there are no signs pointing to Bolinas. Click here to read a New York Times article about Bolinas culture and some of its many unique (and even famous) residents.

MatMan > These fellows had just returned with their fresh haul of crabs. The tide was low and rapidly flowing out of Bolinas Lagoon. We continued walking aong the water toward the beach.

MatMan > Houses lined the shore of the lagoon, built on stilts above the water.

MatMan > Several boats sat in the low water of the lagoon.

MatMan > That's Sutro Tower in the distance - smack-dab in the middle of San Francisco. At 977 ft., it's the tallest structure in the City. And it's perch at the tippy-top of Mt. Sutro (elev. 909 ft.) means its little red lilght bulb at the top sits at 1,886 feet above sea level.

MatMan > Houses above the beach at Bolinas, CA. The beach was covered with shells and interesting rocks. There were lots of beach-combers. And suddenly, we became beach-combers, ourselves. One couldn't really help it. I don't know if you're supposed to collect stuff from the beach, so following are photos of some of the rocks and shells we didn't collect.

MatMan > Lots of rocks had interesting holes and rounded depressions in them. This one even has a shell that grew in it.

MatMan > This is just a piece of glass that's been smoothed by sand and sea. I just wonder how old it is. How long would it take to wear down a piece of glass like this? A year? Ten? Fifty? A hundred?

Houses above the beach at Bolinas, CA. The beach was covered with shells and interesting rocks. There were lots of beach-combers. And suddenly, we became beach-combers, ourselves. One couldn't really help it. I don't know if you're supposed to collect stuff from the beach, so following are photos of some of the rocks and shells we didn't collect.